Pipe-wrench.



R. A. BOWEN.

PIPE WRENCH. APPLICATION-FILED JULY 6, 1910.

978,8 1 8, Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. BOWEN, OF COLFAX, WASHINGTON.

PIPE-WRENCH.

Application filed July 5, 1910. Serial No. 570,416.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. BOWEN, citizen of the United States,residing at Colfax, in the county of Whitman and State of Washington,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piperenches, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pipe wrenches and has for its object theprovisi-on of a strong, durable and thoroughly efficient wrench, theconstruction of which is such that the jaws thereof will effectuallygrip a pipe when turning the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench, the pivotedjaw of which is movable to open and closed positions by means of a leveroperatively connected therewith and provided with a terminal fingerloop.

A further object is to provide means for limiting the opening movementof the pivoted jaw, and means carried by both jaws for gripping a pipe.

A further object is to provide a wrench, capable of being used either asa right or left hand tool and in which the employment of springs and thelike are entirely dispensed with.

A still further object of the invention is generally to improve thisclass of devices so as to increase their utility, durability andefficiency, as well as to reduce the cost of manufacture.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description,it being understood that various changes in form, proportions andminordetails of construction may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof,reference is to be had to the following description and ac; companyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pipe wrench constructed in accordancewith my invention, a portion of the handle being broken away to moreclearly illustrate the same; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing themovable jaw in open position; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional viewpartly in elevation; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on theline 14 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line5 5 of Fig. 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The improved wrench forming the subject matter of the present inventioncomprises a shank 5 having one end thereof reduced to form an operatinghandle-6 and its opposite end provided with a stationary jaw 7. Theupper and lower longitudinal edges of the shank 5 are provided withoppositely disposed strengthening ribs 8, the edges of which are curvedor rounded so as to present a smooth surface for contact with the hand.

One end of the shank 5 is provided with an enlargement 9 having a socket10 formed therein and in which is pivotally mounted a movable jaw 11.The movable jaw 11 is provided with a depending ear or extension 12which fits within the socket 10 and is pierced by a transverse openingfor the reception of a pivot pin or bolt 13. Arranged at the rear ofthemovable jaw 11 and pivotally mounted at 1 1 within the socket 10, is

an operating lever 15, the inner end of which is bifurcated at 16, whilethe outer end thereof projects longitudinally beyond the enlargement 9and is provided with a terminal finger loop 17. I

The extension 12 of the movable jaw 11 is provided with a laterallyextending lug 18 which fits withinthe bifurcated portion 16 of theoperating lever so that when an upward pull is exerted on the fingerpiece 17, said jaw 11 will be moved to open position, and when thefinger loop is forced downwardly in the direction of the shank, the jawwill be moved into engagement with a pipe or other object insertedbetween said aws.

The forward end of the shank 5 is curved upwardly at 19, while theactive face of the stationary jaw 7 intersects the curved portion 19 andis provided with teeth or serrations 20 which bite into the surface of apipe or other object and serve to-prevent slipping of the same.

The free end of the movable jaw 11 extends longitudinally beyond theactive face of the stationary jaw 7 when said movable jaw is in closedposition, while the active face of the movable jaw is formed with teethor serrations 21-inclined in a direction opposite the teeth 20, asshown. The movable jaw 11 is also preferably reinforced and strengthenedbythe provision of oppositely disposed ribs 22, the rear ends ofSpecification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

which are curved laterally to form stop shoulders 23 adapted to bearagainst the upper longitudinal edge of the shank at the socket 10, andthus limit the rearward tilting movement of the jaw 11. Thus it will beseen that by grasping the handle 6 in the right hand with thefore-finger inserted in the loop 17 and exerting an upward pressure onsaid loop, the jaw 11 may be moved to open position so as to permit theinsertion of a pipe. By pressing downwardly on the finger loop 17, themovable jaw 11 will be forced into engagement with the pipe, thuscausing the teeth or serrations 20 and 21 to bite into the surface ofthe pipe and prevent rotation of said pipe between the jaws whensecuring the pipe to or removing said pipe from an adjacent pipe.

An opening 24; is preferably formed in the end of the handle between theribs 8 so that the wrench may be suspended from a nail or other suitablesupport when not in use.

The wrenches may be made in different sizes and shapes and constructedof metal or other suitable material.

\Vhen the wrench is made of soft iron, the teeth or serrations of theclamping jaw will preferably be case hardened so as to prevent unduewear thereon.

Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A wrench including a shank having one end thereof curved laterallyand provided with a stationary jaw having a serrated face and its otherend reduced to form a handle having oppositely disposed strengtheningribs, there being an opening formed in the handle between said ribs, andan enlargement formed on the shank between the opening and stationaryjaw and provided with a socket, a movable jaw having an extensionpivotally mounted in said socket and provided with a lug, a leverpivotally mounted in the socket and having one formed on the face ofsaid movable jaw and inclined in a direction opposite the serrations onthe stationary jaw.

2. A wrench including a shank having one end thereof provided with astationary jaw and its other end reduced to form a handle, anenlargement formed on the shank and provided with a socket, a movablejaw having an extension pivotally mounted in said socket and providedwith a lug, a lever pivotally mounted in the socket and having one endthereof bifurcated to receive the lug and its other end extendinglongitudinally beyond the enlargement and formed with a finger loop, andoppositely disposed ribs formed on the movable jaw and each having oneend thereof bent laterally to form a stop shoulder adapted to engage theenlargement for limiting the tilting movement of the movable jaw.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT A. BOlVEN.

Vitnesses \V. H. LAoEY, A. M. SCOTT.

